La Paz
Bolivia
Salvador
Brazil
La Paz
Salvador
💰 Budget
🛡️ Safety
La Paz
La Paz is generally safe for travelers exercising standard precautions, but altitude sickness is the biggest health risk. Petty crime like pickpocketing is common in markets and on crowded minibuses. Political protests can block roads with little warning.
Salvador
Salvador has real safety challenges and is among Brazil's cities where tourist caution is warranted. The Pelourinho is significantly safer than average during daylight hours due to police presence, but can be sketchy after dark. The Comércio (commercial port district) empties at night and becomes dangerous. Favela areas throughout the city should not be entered by visitors without a trusted local guide. That said, millions of tourists visit safely each year by following sensible precautions.
⭐ Ratings
🌤️ Weather
La Paz
La Paz has a subtropical highland climate with two distinct seasons: wet (November-March) and dry (May-October). Temperatures are relatively consistent year-round due to the altitude, with cool days and cold nights. The sun is intense at this elevation — sunburn happens fast.
Salvador
Salvador has a tropical climate and is warm year-round, with temperatures ranging from 24°C to 30°C (75-86°F) in most months. There is no true cold season. The main distinction is between the wet season (April to July) and the drier, sunnier season (September to March), which is when most tourists visit. The coast is moderated by trade winds and sea breezes year-round.
🚇 Getting Around
La Paz
La Paz has no metro, but the Mi Teleferico cable car system is the star of urban transit. Minibuses and trufis (shared taxis) cover the rest. The steep, canyon-like geography makes walking between neighborhoods a serious workout at altitude.
Walkability: Central La Paz is walkable but physically demanding due to the extreme altitude and steep terrain. Walking downhill from El Alto to the center is far easier than going up. Take it slow, rest often, and use the teleferico for uphill segments. The historic center around Plaza Murillo is flat enough for comfortable exploration.
Salvador
Salvador is a large, sprawling city built across a peninsula with an upper city and lower city connected by the famous Elevador Lacerda. Public transit exists but is complex — the metro has only 2 lines with limited coverage, and buses cover the city but can be confusing for visitors. Uber and 99 are widely available and are the recommended option for most tourist journeys.
Walkability: Walkability in Salvador is highly neighborhood-dependent. The Pelourinho historic center is excellent for walking and best explored on foot. Barra is also walkable along the waterfront. Beyond these areas, the city sprawls with heavy traffic, few pedestrian crossings, and hot sun making long walks impractical. Use Uber for journeys between neighborhoods.
The Verdict
Choose La Paz if...
you want the world's highest capital — Mi Teleférico cable-car network, Witches Market, Valle de la Luna, Death Road mountain biking, and Uyuni salt flats flights
Choose Salvador if...
you want the cradle of Afro-Brazilian culture — Pelourinho, capoeira, Olodum drums, moqueca, and the world's biggest street Carnival
Salvador